David Haye and Tony Bellew will clash in a heavyweight rematch at The O2 in London on Sunday December 17 - and the Londoner is odds-on to get his revenge.
The former world heavyweight champion started the first fight back in March as a heavy favourite but lost to the Liverpudlian after being hindered for much of the bout by an Achilles injury sustained in the sixth round.
With Haye struggling to compete effectively, then-trainer Shane McGuigan eventually threw in the towel in the 11th but having now recovered following surgery, he's once again priced up as favourite to triumph, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Sky Bet make Haye 1/3 for the win while Bellew can be backed at 5/2 to spring a surprise.
Haye (28-3, 26 KOs) said: "I'm excited to give the public the rematch they truly crave, ever since the explosive first showdown earlier this year. On March 4, the script was thrown out the window and the unpredictability of sport revealed itself in its most raw form. Without question ‘The Bomber’ showed great heart, grit and determination to weather the early storm. Credit to him, that he's willing to step back into the lion’s den and do it all over again.
"He somehow won the lottery in our first fight, but believe me, he won’t win the lottery twice. I've been training every day for over six months. I already feel fitter, stronger and more athletic than I did for our first showdown! On December 17, I will relish the opportunity to re-write the ending of the Haye Bellew story."
Former cruiserweight king Bellew (29-2, 19 KOs) said: "I will have the exact same attitude I had going into the first fight - win at all costs. I will be victorious on December 17 and I will end David Haye's career. Another loss to me closes the curtain on the Hayemaker.
"This isn't personal anymore, it's strictly business. This is just another fight. My world has been put into perspective in the last four weeks, it's been the toughest four weeks of my family's lives and I will dedicate my victory on December 17 to my late brother-in-law.
"He knows how the first fight went, after five rounds I had him 3-2 up, my plan was never to start strong as David is a front-runner. He's dangerous early but he tires quickly and he doesn't get stronger down the stretch. He's another year old, the body is more worn and he won't be able to live with a younger, fresher and more active fighter, he just can't sustain the tempo and pace once we go past three or four rounds.
"It's a very dangerous fight but I am looking forward to it. I love The O2 and I wanted the fight to be there. I call the shots this time."
David Haye v Tony Bellew: Tale of the Tape
DAVID HAYE
- Age: 36 (Will be 37 by fight night)
- Fights: 31
- Won: 28
- Won By KO: 26
- Drawn: 0
- Lost: 3
- Rounds Boxed: 133
- Height: 6ft 3ins
- Stance: Orthodox
- Reach: 78ins
TONY BELLEW
- Age: 34 (Will be 35 by fight night)
- Fights: 32
- Won: 29
- Won By KO: 19
- Drawn: 1
- Lost: 2
- Rounds Boxed: 211
- Height: 6ft 3ins
- Stance: Orthodox
- Reach: 74ins
David Haye Fight Record
Here below is a full record of David Haye's (28-3, 26KOs) professional boxing career.
- Tony Bellew, March 2017 - LOST RTD (rd 11)
- Arnold Gjergjaj, May 2016 - WON TKO (rd 2)
- Mark de Mori, January 2016 - WON TKO (rd 1)
- Dereck Chisora, July 2012 - WON TKO (rd 5)
- Wladimir Klitschko, July 2011 – LOST PTS (UD)
- Audley Harrison, November 2010 - WON TKO (rd 3)
- John Ruiz, April 2010 - WON TKO (rd 9)
- Nikolay Valuev, November 2009 – WON PTS (MD)
- Monte Barrett, November 2008 - WON TKO (rd 5)
- Enzo Maccarinelli, March 2008 - WON TKO (rd 2)
- Jean Marc Mormeck, November 2007 - WON TKO (rd 7)
- Tomasz Bonin, April 2007 - WON TKO (rd 1)
- Giocobbe Fragomeni, November 2006 - WON TKO (rd 9)
- Ismail Abdoul, July 2006 – WON PTS (UD)
- Lasse Johansen, March 2006 - WON TKO (rd 8)
- Alexander Gurov, December (rd 2)
- Vincenzo Rossitto, October 2005 - WON TKO (rd 2)
- Glen Kelly, March 2005 - WON TKO (rd 1)
- Garry Delaney, January 2005 - WON RTD (rd 3)
- Valeri Semiskur, December 2004 - WON KO (rd 1)
- Carl Thompson, September 2004 - LOST TKO (rd 5)
- Arthur Williams, May 2004 - WON TKO (rd 3)
- Hastings Rasani, March 2004 - WON TKO (rd 1)
- Tony Dowling, November 2003 - WON TKO (rd 1)
- Lolenga Mock, September 2003 - WON TKO (rd 4)
- Greg Scott Briggs, August 2003 - WON KO (rd 1)
- Vance Winn, July 2003 - WON TKO (rd 1)
- Phill Day, March 2003 - WON TKO (rd 2)
- Roger Bowden, March 2003 - WON TKO (rd 1)
- Saber Zairi, January 2003 - WON TKO (rd 4)
- Tony Booth, December 2012 - WON RTD (rd 2)
Tony Bellew Fight Record
Here below is a full record of Tony Bellew’s's (29-2-1, 19KOs) professional boxing career.
- David Haye, March 2017 - WON RTD (rd 11)
- BJ Flores, October 2016 - WON KO (rd 3)
- Ilunga Makabu, May 2016 - WON TKO (rd 3)
- Mateusz Mastemak, December 2015 – WON UD
- Arturs Kulikauskis, September 2015 - WON TKO (rd 5)
- Ivica Bacurin, June 2015 - WON TKO (rd 10)
- Nathan Cleverly, November 2014 - WON SD
- Julio Cesar Dos Santos, July 2014 - WON TKO (rd 5)
- Valery Brudov, March 2014 - WON KO (rd 12)
- Adonis Stevenson, November 2013 - LOST KO (rd 6)
- Isaac Chilemba, May 2013 – WON UD
- Isaac Chilemba, March 2013 - DRAW (SD)
- Roberto Feliciano Bolonti, November 2012 - WON UD
- Edison Miranda, September 2012 - WON TKO (rd 9)
- Danny McIntosh, April 2012 - WON TKO (rd 5)
- Nathan Cleverly, October 2011 - LOST PTS (MD)
- Ovill McKenzie, July 2011 - WON UD
- Ovill McKenzie, December 2010 - WON TKO (rd 8)
- Bob Ajisafe, September 2010 - WON PTS (UD)
- Atoli Moore, March 2010 - WON TKO (rd 1)
- Martial Bella Oleme, December 2009 - WON PTS (6x6)
- Jindrich Velecky, Octobr 2009 - WON TKO (rd 1)
- Nick Okoth, September 2009 - WON TKO (rd 3)
- Matthew Ellis, May 2009 - WON TKO (rd 4)
- Phil Goodwin, December 2008 - WON KO (rd 2)
- Jevgenijs Andrejevs, October 2008 - WON PTS (4x4)
- Hastings Rasani, September 2008 - WON TKO (rd 1)
- Ayitey Powers, July 2008 - WON PTS (4x4)
- Paul Bonson, April 2008 – WON PTS (4x4)
- Wayne Brooks, December 2007 - WON KO (rd 3)
- Adam Wilcox, November 2007 - WON TKO (rd 3)
- Jamie Ambler, October2007 - WON TKO (rd 2)